It’s no secret that the standard Xbox 360 headset doesn’t offer the best quality sound around. Turtle Beach offers an entry-level gaming headset for the Xbox 360 that doubles as a set of headphones and a communicator. Let’s take this pair for a spin and see how they perform.
Specifications
Headphones
- 50mm diameter speakers with neodymium magnets
- Speaker Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz, >120dB SPL @ 1kHz
- Condenser Microphone Frequency Response: 50Hz – 15kHz
- Cable length: 16 ft. (4.87m)
- Weight: 6.4 oz (181g)
In-line Amplifier
- Headphone Amplifier: Stereo DC-coupled, 35mW/ch, THD <1%, Frequency Response: DC – 30kHz
- Mic mute switch
- Maximum analog input level with volume control on maximum setting: 2Vpp (700mV rms)
- Fixed Bass Boost +9dB @150Hz
- 2.5mm XBOX 360® controller input jack
- USB connector for power (5VDC @ <60mA max)
Hardware
With a new baby in our household, doing any sort of gaming in the evenings meant that I needed a decent headset. I’ve been using Turtle Beach’s flagship PX-5’s for about six months now. At $39, the XL1’s are designed for the budget-gamer in mind. This is just $10 more than the cost of the standard Xbox headset.
So what do you get? First of all, you are getting a proper stereo headset that cannot only plug into your only Xbox, but also anything that has a standard red/white audio output, such as you TV, DVD player, or any other electronic device. The headset is wired and plugs in to the Xbox via the USB port. Turtle Beach provides an ample 16 feet of cable too, so you should be able to use this in pretty much any home setup. You also have a small cord included to connect to your Xbox 360 controller for the voice chat.
The headphones are made of a matte plastic with unobtrusive branding on the sides. They don’t look as high end as the PX5’s, but the build quality is quite good. There is a small but adequate amount of cushioning for the top of your head and they do adjust length wise for those of you that either have large craniums or don’t want to mess up your hair do like our Editor In Chief. The microphone is a flexible type which is standard.
The earpieces themselves are large, over-the-ear types. I find them just as comfortable as the PX5’s and they offer a minor amount of noise isolation because of this design. The ear pieces are a soft material. Your ear actually sits inside a small “cup” which adds to the comfort. Extended periods of wear won’t be an issue. As I mentioned in my review of my PX5’s, I occasionally wear glasses while I game. This over-the-ear design is more comfortable than an on-the-ear type that I find pushes the arm of my glasses into my head and bothers me after a while.
Performance
The XL1’s come with 50mm speakers that produce a surprisingly nice sound with a good bass response. These headphones are stereo only, but it should be noted that you can buy an extra DSS sound processor from Turtle Beach which simulates 5.1/7.1 sound through the XL1’s. At $90, this extra doesn’t come cheap. However you can buy the two together at a slight discount through the Turtle Beach website. When it comes to gaming, I’m a big fan of options and this is a nice option should you want to upgrade in the future.
The XL1’s also come with an in-line sound amplifier. Much like the controls on the Xbox 360 headsets it allows you to adjust the volume and mute things when need be. It also allows you to independently control the game and voice chat sounds. While these aren’t programmable like Turtle Beach’s higher end headsets this is a really nice feature to include.
All in all I really don’t have any complaints about the XL1’s. They offer a better voice chat experience with very little of the hiss and tininess that I find with the standard Xbox 360 headsets. Since they double as a pair of headphones I think they are a good value for the price.
If you’re in the market for an entry-level Xbox 360 headset, you can’t go wrong here. Definitely worth the $10 more than you’ll pay for the standard Xbox headset.
